Brummie playwright Selina Thompson brings her bold new play Twine to The Yard Theatre in East London, shedding light on the racism embedded within the British adoption system while delving into the inner psyche of both the system and the adoptee. This complex play follows the journey of three characters—Bark, Sapling, and Seed—who are played by Muki Zubis, Nandi Bhebhe, and Angelina Chudhi. These characters represent personas of the unseen writer, Sycamore, as they navigate the emotional and psychological toll of adoption.
Mastering stillness and calm in our relentless day and age can quite understandably be a challenging feat to accomplish, our digital age continually keeping us connected to the outside world. Meditation a vital practise in helping to achieve a sense of living in the present and shutting off from distractions. Finding that a meditative environment was a byproduct of the creation of new piece IV, Bodyworker, Mixed Media Artist and Performer SERAFINE1369 (Jamila Johnson-Small) was able to achieve this in part due to sound designer Josh Anio Grigg’s score, amongst other factors. The show bringing together bodies in movement and stillness, in light and in darkness, and a speaking clock, to create a series of tableaux and moments of dancing with complete abandonment. Incorporating loose dancing emerging through tight structure, a system of movement and stillness – IV is a meditative play between instinctive rhythms and strict timing. Ahead of the show, to take place the from 25th to 28th April as part of the NOW23 Festival at The Yard, SERAFINE1369 tells us more about what to expect!
Courtesy of Eva Roefs.
It can often feel that we need to have a clear, decisive view of the world in order to thrive and survive, that strong opinions equate to your standing in the world. In a time where cultural wars are prevalent, not picking a side in itself could be seen as a rebellious act. Drawing on this further with current show Commitment Phobe to show at the Yard Theatre’s NOW23 Festival, writer and performer Ira Brand explores doubt in a world that values certainty. A live, physical and performative experiment, Commitment Phobe is dedicated to observing what it means to not pick a side in today’s inconsistent society. Ahead of the show, taking place from 2nd to 6th May, Ira tells us more about what to expect!
Hi Ira, you’ll be presenting your show Commitment Phobe as part of Yard Theatre’s NOW23 Festival from 2nd-6th May. How are you feeling ahead of the show?
The Yard Theatre have launched Nightlife Residents—a residency programme for three DJs, producers, collectives, producers, artists or performers to run three nights at The Yard, with creative freedom and no hire fees.
They’re looking for DJs, producers, collectives, producers, artists or performers who have an idea for a night, or an existing event series, and want to grow with no financial stress and a home to do it in.
They want their Yard Residents to see nightlife spaces as a vital part of London’s culture scene, who want to foster new ideas and look at new ways of bringing people together on the dancefloor. Yard Residents who see the potential and possibilities in clubs, that no other cultural space could offer. They’re also especially interested in residents who want to fuse nightlife and performance.
Yard Residents will receive the following:
- Three nights at The Yard, free of charge
- In-kind support from our Music & Events team
- Support from The Yard’s Marketing team
- A discounted membership to The Yard’s partner, The Halley, for a year
- Support from The Yard’s wider team
The premiere of Dipo Baruwa-Etti’s An Unfinished Man at The Yard Theatre is an exciting one because it brings to the surface the complex interplay of culture and mental health which many children of migrants (including myself) will find validating.
Courtesy of Camilla Greenwell.
Courtesy of JMA Photography.
Belief systems whether explicit or implicit are a part of our daily lives, religion and spirituality for many sources of security. We all connect with readings, quotes, scriptures, imagery, artefacts and ritual differently – it is inevitably up to us to determine how best to navigate our own lives. The crux of his work Idol, writer and performer Jamal Gerald asks a very important question – as a ‘Black, queer and Catholic in a Caribbean household, which higher order do you bow down to: Queen Bey or white Jesus?’ The answer? The former! Described as the ‘patron saint of empowerment’, Jamal has more of a connection with the superstar. Ahead of the show, Jamal talks to us about debuting the show last year at Transform Festival ’19, what audiences can expect from the show and offers advice to aspiring writers and performers!
This Beautiful Future is a transporting vision of innocence and regret as teenage lovers Elodie (Abigail Lawrie) and German soldier Otto (Tom Morley) shelter from the chaos of France’s liberation and dream of better days ahead.
Courtesy of the Yard Theatre.
Ten years have passed since Offstage Theatre performed their first production HOME which instantly gave them commercial success when it became a feature on Channel 4, ITV and BBC TV news. It was a play made by the community of the Beaumont Estate in Leyton East London and set inside one of the condemned towers prior to its demolition. Now, on the tenth anniversary of the demolition, OffStage have revisited these voices with this new adaptation of RE:HOME at Hackney Wick’s the Yard Theatre.
Based on four soldiers life’s in the British Army, Lines at the Yard Theatre is a story of camaraderie and the effects of war. Set in an army barracks, these mates are a team and if one fails they all fail and must suffer the consequences.
